Selected boot device is not available

This means one of two things, either your HDD died, lost it's format, or your bios was reset with no hard drive enabled. The best way to determine if your hard drive is dead or not is to put a windows boot CD in the CD Drive and restart the computer, CTRL-ALT-DEL and watch the boot sequence. Dell computers have the F12 key to select an alternate boot device, other pc's may have CTL-ESC or some other key. Anyway just select the CD to boot from and try to install windows when it gets to the Target selection if the C: drive is available then the drive might still be viable, if not replace your HDD and try again. Google HDD Replacement on your pc's model number, it will help. Good Luck

Enter the set up (BIOS) menu by tapping the F2 key. Hold down the <Alt> key and depress the <E> then the <F> keys in succession. This will force the motherboard to load default settings and also force the motherboard to redetect all IDE devices. Note: The selection for the floppy drive will be set to ON. If you do not have one then you must disable floppy in set up (BIOS) menu.

Not sure if this model computer supports SATA drive interface. It uses IDE interface for hard drive. Here is a link to your model:
ftp://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_desktop/esuprt_dell_precision_workstation/precision-650_Service%20Manual_en-us.pdf

Place your windows XP install disc into the dvd drive. Turn your desktop off. Then turn back on and tap F12. Then select your dvd drive instead of the HDD. This will boot your computer from the disc data instead of your HDD data.

Hope this helps

This model has a Diagnostics utility which is a hardware diagnostic program placed in the utility partition on the hard drive. The diagnostic utility is also available on the Dell Resource CD.

• Express Test - Performs a quick test of devices. This test typically takes 10 to 20 minutes and requires no interaction on your part. Run Express Test first to increase the possibility of tracing the problem quickly.
• Extended Test - Performs a thorough check of devices. This test typically takes an hour or more and requires you to answer questions periodically.
• Custom Test - Tests a specific device. You can customize the tests you want to run.(You can select the audio test here. If this passes then you have a software driver issue).
  
• Symptom Tree - Lists the most common symptoms encountered and allows you to select a test based on the symptom of the problem you are having.
• To start the Dell diagnostics follow the next steps.
• Turn on or restart the computer.
• When the Dell logo appears, press immediately. If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft® Windows® desktop, and then shut down the computer and try again.
• When the boot device list appears, highlight Boot to Utility Partition and press .
• When the Dell Diagnostics main menu appears, select the test you want to run.
• If all tests pass then you probably have a software issue not hardware.
  

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Try the above solution and let me know how you get on?

If you are getting message the message "selected boot device not available" that is because you have do not have a bootable HDD (Hard Disk). Please do the following:

Insert the Windows XP Operating system Disk.
Restart the computer and start Tapping the F12 key, It will give you the boot options.
Select to boot from CD/DVD-Rom
When prompted press any key to boot from CD-Rom
Once the computer is booted from CD, follow the instructions to install the Operating system.
Note: You can also go to BIOS (by pressing F2 or Delete) and change the boot device to CD-ROM

Once you finish installing the Windows Operating system. You can go ahead with installation of your Linux Operating system. After you finish Installing Linux you will get the option in GRUB to select the Operating systems.

If you have already installed Linux and want to install the Windows, Follow the same procedure but it will directly boot Windows after you finish Installing Windows. You will have to write the GRUB again for your Linux system.

Please get back for any further assistance.

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go to your bios and search for boot order....select hard disk as your primary boot device

Press F12 as you boot up the Dell and select the CD as the alternate boot device, insert the Windows installation CD in the CD drive and continue.
If you can't select the CD as the alternate boot device then go into the BIOS configuration then the Boot order and select the CD as the first boot device, save and exit. You can change it back after Windows is installed if you wish.

Hi, Some proprietary recovery/installer CDs meant for a particular brand of laptop will not work on another. What you need perhaps is a Windows installer and use the serial number/key at the bottom sticker oy your laptop. You of course have to set in the CMOS/BIOS that the laptop boot from the CD first or F12 to select boot device. Further, the necessary driver files for a Toshiba laptop devices/components would not be available from a Dell or HP discs. If the CD drive will not read/boot the Windows installer CD, then the optical drive might have a problem. Your only alternative is to use/boot a USB attached device such as an external HD, CD or flash drive with the necessary boot files and installers. The first 2 would require the use of an external connector (IDE to USB adapter) while the last would have to be prepped using a 2nd PC. Hope this be of some help/idea. Pls post back what method you intend to use or should you need additional information. Good luck and kind regards.